CapGlobalCarbon is a proposal for non-governmental actors to create a new global system to (a) make sure the necessary reductions in total global carbon emissions are achieved and (b) do so in a way that reduces poverty and inequality. The system would operate as a back-up to the inter-governmental negotiations. This idea has been developed by members of the international think tank Feasta. Anyone interested in further information or in helping to realise this project please make contact here.

The Challenges

Our global climate is on course for disaster. This is because the atmosphere is being treated as a dumping-ground for greenhouse gas emissions. And there is no global regulator for keeping the vast majority of the World’s remaining fossil fuels in the ground.

In order to minimise the risks of irreversible climate change, CapGlobalCarbon (CGC) aims to ensure that the aggregate global emissions from fossil fuels steadily decrease to zero. This would be achieved by a progressively tightening cap on fossil fuel extraction. Furthermore, revenues from the auction of extraction permits would benefit the lowest consumers of fossil fuels. This compensation could substantially alleviate poverty and reduce global inequality. By steadily and predictably reducing the global dependence on fossil fuels the process proposed by CapGlobalCarbon would also hasten a smooth transition to a zero-carbon economy.

This system would act as a back-up to the UNFCCC negotiations, ensuring that the global community finally achieves effective action on climate change.

How is CapGlobalCarbon a solution?

To prevent catastrophic climate change, it is essential that an effective regulator of the aggregate global total fossil fuels is established.

CapGlobalCarbon proposes that:

Non-governmental organisations and groups of global citizens establish an independent Global Climate Commons Trust to act on behalf of humanity as a whole;

Based on the advice of climate scientists, the Trust decides the total amount of fossil carbon from coal, oil and gas that can safely be extracted each year, the quantity being reduced each year.

To ensure that total extraction does not exceed that annual amount that can be safely extracted, the Trust introduces a global licence scheme to control the introduction of coal, oil or gas anywhere in the world.

The global licence scheme is enforced by each nation-state government banning the introduction (production and import) into that country of fossil fuels not covered by the global licence.

The licences are auctioned by the Trust and bought by fossil fuel extraction companies.

Having paid market price for the licences the fossil fuel extraction companies pass on the cost to their customers.

The net proceeds from the auction are distributed directly to the people throughout the world in equal shares or used for their benefit. In both cases low fossil fuel users’ share will more than compensate for the increase in fuel prices making them better off. The scheme thus contributes to social justice by reducing inequality and should therefore attract wide support.

The scheme would operate as a back up to make sure that catastrophic climate change is avoided.

CapGlobalCarbon, Poverty and Justice

CGC provides an effective way of tackling the injustices of human caused climate change – the fact that those who have contributed least to the problem are more likely to be those who suffer most from the consequences.

CGC also provides a way of tackling the negative health impacts of fossil fuel use, including the effects of marine acidification, and pollution of air, water and soil.

The next steps

As the negotiations in Paris failed to introduce an effective system to regulate the aggregate global total of carbon emissions, we assert that the initiative to do this has to come from the global non-governmental sector, from an organised movement of citizens working together across the globe.

What institutional arrangements are needed and who should take responsibility for establishing an effective mechanism? We are starting a conversation about how to do this: our proposal is to establish an independent Global Climate Commons Trust to regulate the aggregate global total of carbon emissions in accordance with climate science by means of a global Cap&Share scheme. CapGlobalCarbon was launched at an official side event at the Paris negotiations on 5 December 2015.

Join us

To get this project off the ground will require a critical mass of individuals and non-governmental organisations to initiate and develop the basic proposal on behalf of humanity as a whole including future generations. The current crisis offers us the opportunity to realise our potential as the Earth’s first conscious/aware species, to ensure that our collective actions match our knowledge and understanding. Exceptional times call for exceptional measures. CapGlobalCarbon is something we together can make happen. But we are under no illusions about the scale of the ambition or the size of the task. The proposed Trust needs to be legally constituted. It must be required to act for the benefit of the whole of humanity including future generations. It must be required to operate on the best available climate science. It must be adequately resourced. It will then need to gain widespread support.

More information

See the Thoughts about CapGlobalCarbon section for the thinking behind CapGlobalCarbon, ideas on implementation and arguments for different parties (nation-states, citizens, companies) to be in favour of a global cap on carbon. An overview of relevant literature can be found on our useful links page.

CapGlobalCarbon is a proposal by members of the The Foundation for the economics of sustainability (Feasta), an international think-tank based in Ireland. We are looking for other individuals and organisations to help implement it. Implementation will require a new organisation with large resources and influential champions as well as widespread support. Anyone interested in contributing in any way please contact us.